Oncology Counsellor - Mv Cancer Services

East And North Hertfordshire Teaching Nhs Trust; Tankerton; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 40,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

High Cost Area Supplement

Job summary

The Lynda Jackson Macmillan Centre at Mount Vernon Cancer Centre invites applications for an Oncology Counsellor. You will assess patients, plan and implement specialist psychological interventions for cancer patients, and maintain records as part of a multidisciplinary team.

You will also provide training to staff and students, participate in research and audits, and contribute to high-quality compassionate care for people affected by cancer at this NHS trust site.

Qualifications

• BA/ Post-diploma in counselling is essential.
• Evidence of continuing professional development (CPD) as recommended by counselling governing body.
• Post-qualification experience in a clinical health setting is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Assess patients and plan/implement a course of counselling (up to six sessions).
• Plan and manage own caseload and run therapeutic groups where appropriate.
• Refer to other services and maintain client case notes with appropriate documentation.
• Contribute to training for staff and students and participate in research/audit.

Skills

Counselling skills

Communication

Teamwork

Education

BA/ Post-diploma in counselling

CPD in counselling

Job description

Job summary

We are recruiting for a Oncology Counsellor who shares our vision to be trusted to provide consistently outstanding care and exemplary service to our patients.

The Lynda Jackson Macmillan Centre provides support and information to patients and carers attending Mount Vernon Cancer Centre for treatments such as chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy.

It is a valuable resource for people affected by cancer and is staffed by oncology trained health professionals, complementary therapists, counsellors, an art therapist and psychologist, and other volunteers with a wide variety of experience. The centre's status is part NHS and part charitable.

The successful candidate will assess patients, plan and implement an appropriate specialist psychological intervention for cancer patients and maintain associated records. You will liaise and provide specialist advice to the wider multi-disciplinary team and provide training to medical and non-medical staff and students, as appropriate.

You will assist the Lead by taking part in research and audit in the specialist area of cancer counselling. Also, you will act in accordance with, and undertake continued professional development, in line with their governing professional body and in house guidelines

At the heart of everything we do are our core values:Include,Respect, andImprove. We encourage you to embrace these values throughout the recruitment process and in your role with us.

Main duties of the job

• Use highly specialised therapeutic skills and theoretical frameworks to assess suitability of patients and carers, for psychological interventions.
• To autonomously plan and implement a course of counselling (up to six sessions) to meet the individual needs of patients and/or carers.
• To plan and organise own caseload.
• Able to run therapeutic groups for patients and carers.
• To organise and make decisions regarding referrals to other services.
• To be responsible for using clinical supervision to facilitate work with patient.
• Maintain client case notes and write letters following counselling sessions in accordance with local policy and guidelines for best practice.
• Communicate with the wider multi-disciplinary team regarding the outcome of psychological assessment and treatment.
• To take part in training to provide specialist training to other staff and/or volunteers.

About us

At East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust, we are proud of the range of general & specialist services we provide & our 6,000 or so dedicated staff ensure our patients get the best care. Our ability to be flexible & innovative in the way in which we work and deliver our services to our catchment has never been more important than it is now.

We run the following hospitals:

• The Lister Hospital, Stevenage
• New Queen Elizabeth II (New QEII), Welwyn Garden City
• Hertford County, Hertford
• Mount Vernon Cancer Centre (MVCC), Northwood

We have ambitious plans to become an outstanding, patient-led Trust where dedicated staff provide high-quality, compassionate care to our patients. We continue to undergo significant transformation; our staff & patients are at the heart of delivering this ambitious agenda.

We understand that finding and starting a new job is an important life decision. If you need reasonable adjustments for a disability, or a life event, such as menopause - so that we can consider your application fairly & to get the best out of you during the selection process, please let us know.

We are committed to a positive work life balance for our employees. Employees are entitled to seek to work flexible working patterns & we are committed to listen and consider all requests. Such requests, of course, have to be made & considered formally, & will need to be balanced against service needs, but our starting point will always be to find ways to support making them happen.

Job responsibilities

In addition, you will receive a High Cost Area Supplement of 15% of your basic salary, subject to a minimum payment of £4,314 and a maximum payment of £5,436 per annum pro rata.

Please see the attached Job Description and Person Specification applicant pack for further detailed information regarding this role.

Qualifications/Training

Essential

• B.A.C.P accredited counsellor
• Minimum education post diploma in counselling
• Evidence of continuing professional development as recommended by counselling governing body

Desirable

• Healthcare Professional

Previous Experience

Essential

• Post qualification experience in a clinical health setting
• An understanding of cancer patients' psychological, social, physical and spiritual issues
• Experience of providing two or more distinct psychological therapies

Desirable

• Experience of clinical work with cancer patients
• Experience of working within a multi-cultural framework
• To have worked clinically within the NHS and have an understanding of its structure

Skills

Essential

• Counselling skills- ability to assess, intervene and build therapeutic relationships, in order to work with people affected by cancer.
• Strong communication skills both verbal and written
• Strong communication skills Excellent interpersonal skills; ability to work autonomously as well as within a team verbal and written
• Facilitation skills
• Intense concentration for long periods
• To work in possibly highly distressing and emotional circumstances
• Dealing with possible hostility
• Report/letter writing

Desirable

• Familiarity with the use of computers and IT
• Presentation skills

Knowledge

Essential

• Working knowledge of a variety of psychological therapies
• Specialist knowledge of the practice of psychological therapy with cancer patients
• Awareness of the impact of cancer on the patient, carers and families
• Current Law as applicable to counselling practice and confidentiality
• Quality of life issues
• Understanding of importance of ethics, standards and evidence based practice

Desirable

• Role of LJMC within the cancer network and wider community
• NHS and its structure
• Awareness of use of complementary therapies with cancer patients
• In depth understanding of cancer and its medical treatments

Other Requirements

Essential

• Understanding of, and commitment to, equality, diversity and inclusion
• Role model our Trust values every day
• Integrity, empathy and self awareness
• Respect for patients confidentiality
• Open-minded approach to people of all cultures and abilities
• Sensitivity to stresses in dealing with cancer
• A good command of English
• Ability to identify and employ as appropriate, clinical governance mechanisms for the support and maintenance of clinical practice in the face of regular exposure to highly emotive material.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Applicants must have current UK professional registration.